US President George W. Bush signed a bill on Monday which toughens penalties for copyright infringement, music and movie piracy.

The bill tightens civil and criminal intellectual property laws, imposes stricter penalties on violators and establishes the position of a White House-based "Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator."

It also provides the Justice Department and FBI with more resources to fight intellectual property crimes.

"..Requires the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants for training, prevention, enforcement, and prosecution of intellectual property theft and infringement crimes," reads the summary of the bill.

"..Requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to: (1) create an operational unit to work with the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property section of the DOJ on the investigation and coordination of complex intellectual property crimes; and (2) implement a comprehensive intellectual property crime program."

The bill was welcomed by trade groups such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).